Active Duty Service Members

Tuition Assistance (TA)

Tuition Assistance (TA) is a government benefit offered to service members of all branches of the Armed Forces as well as military spouses/dependents to assist with the cost of tuition.

How to Request Tuition Assistance

Requesting Tuition Assistance is the same for all branches of the military and is outlined in the steps below. Specific information regarding the type of military Tuition Assistance you are using can be found in Branch Specific Information.

  1. Speak with your local Education Office to ensure your eligibility for Tuition Assistance.
  2. Follow their instructions for how to request Tuition Assistance for your course(s). Take note of the timeframe in which you are able to request your TA indicated in the Branch Specific Information below.
  3. After the military approves your request, submit your Tuition Authorization form to the FSW Cashiers Office at Cashiers@fsw.edu.
  4. Look for a TA credit to your account within 3-5 business days of receiving your form.

Branch Specific Information

Select your branch below for more information.

Benefit Summary (Coast Guard)

The following is a summary of what Coast Guard Tuition Assistance will cover. Determine your eligibility with your Education Office or on the Coast Guard’s TA Policies webpage.

TA Request Timeframe

No earlier than 90 days before and no later than 16 days before the semester begins.

Coverage
  • Active Duty or Reservists on long term orders (180+ days) are eligible.
  • May cover up to $250 per credit hour. 
  • Fiscal year cap of $4,500. 

  • TA request timeframe: 

    • Start: 90 days before term starts 
    • End: 16 days before term starts 

Getting Started & More

  • If you have not previously used Tuition Assistance before, contact your Education Office to get started.
  • Make sure your military TA account is updated with the degree program you will be pursuing at FSW, and review all of the Coast Guard's requirements and regulations for using TA.
  • Ensure you request your TA 16-90 days prior to the start of the semester.

  • You will manually enter the course information on your TA request. Make sure you have all the correct information before you submit your request. The information needed includes: 

    • The course subject code and number (e.g. ENC 1101)
    • The course title (e.g. Basic Composition) 
    • The course dates (e.g. Spring Mini-A Term, 1/9/23 - 2/23/23) 
    • The number of credit hours 
  • Your TA authorization form must be signed by you and your Education Office and submitted to the Coast Guard for approval.
  • Once approved, the authorization form should be sent to the Cashiers Office in-person or by email at Cashiers@fsw.edu.
  • Grades for your TA courses will be automatically submitted within 30 days of the end of the semester. It is your responsibility to ensure grades are received.

*State, federal, or commercial entities may impose additional requirements related to obtaining credentials in a given field. Further information can be found within the individual Program descriptions in our College Catalog.